, 1887-02-04
THE VITALITY OF CHINA.


sudden Rise of the Oriental Nation to -
Place Among the Powers.
The sudden rise of China to a plac,
among the World Powers is by far
the greatest change which this generation
has witnessed i'll Asiatic politics. 1t is
scarcely yet six years since the great en-
pire stood as much outside the politics of
the world, and especially the politics Of
Europe, as if she had belonged to a D
rate and distinct planet. \ few observ-
ers, it is true, who had noticed recent
events-the expiration Of the Panthays.
the erasure of the kingdom of Kashgar
and the determined attitude assumed by
Pckin when demanding the -retrocession
of kuldja by the Russians-had begun to
doubt whether the vitality of China had
not been moderated. but the statesmen
Of Europe paid her very little attention.
The dispatch of an ambassador to Europe
was considered rather an absurdity; it
was necessary to protect his suite from
insult i'll London by some rather sharp
sentences; and the French government,
when IT began Its experiments in Indo-
China, openly pronounced the Chinese
empire to be une quantite negligeable.
We ourselves delayed carrying out the
treaty of Tien-tsin with a certain indif-
ferent Incidence, and in central Europe
China was considered an interesting o
graphical expression. Within six wears
this indifference has completely disap-
peared, and China is now recognized by
all diplomatists as u state of the first i'm
portance, which Gar exercise u direct and
serious influence on almost every great
power.
She stands, in fact, in direct contact
with the majority Of them. 1t is not too
much to say that the statesmen of Pekin
could overthrow any French ministry by
merely increasing their pressure ON Ton
quin and encouraging the Anamese To
attempt an instruction. That is to say,
they could compel the French govern
ment to ask for me- and money with
which TO defend their lndo-Chinese pos
sessions on a scale which the peasantrv
would assuredly not bear, and which.
even if voted, would ALLEVIATE the cham
Der. The Chinese are quite aware of
this fact. and are even now striking
blows at France. which %oxasperates the
foreign Office i'll Paris to the last degree.
The Chinese could in Burmah make
everything difficult for the British gov
ment, which again has every reason to
desire their friendship, not only because
the opium revenue depends upon it, but
because III any great struggle with Russia
the alliance with China might enable lis
TO effect a serious diversion, perhaps to
embarrass the government OF st. Peters
burg more than by any direct attack in
the Black sea. The Indian government.
acting i'll unison with that of China,
would control nearly half the human
race, and could exert "a force in ASH,
with which even tho masses of soldiery
at the disposal of the car would bc I'M
able To contend. To Russia. indeed.
China is of the most formidable of
states, because by an invasion of Man
chooria. or of the territory west oi
kuldia, tho Chinese emperor can. at dis
erection. compel ST. Petersburgh either IL
aubmit TO n defeat which would be fol
lowed by instructions throughout Asiatic
kussia OF 10 forward an army over 1900
miles Of an mhospitable country at IA.
expense which would he ruinous to any
lt.'aury in the world. One can hardly
imaSirc a worse position than that of a
Russian emperor with q European wal
nl hand. yet compelled to defend his a.-
c%endancv in rnrtafl u|oain,t a general
lkp To.
la Paris. London and 81. Petersburg.
therefore, the Marqni. 1scng Is one oi
the most honord and influential OF
diplpnlsii-ts and even ia Berlin he is re.
criscd with marked respect. for Prince
Bismarck never forget that Sls, and
German may one day be- compelled t,
t..| Inn. 80 .,.M. nal IT, L.. 49, I